Popó launches his career with a show in front of Michael Oliveira

With a performance that was reminiscent of his time as world champion, Acelino “Popó” Freitas said goodbye to the ring in style. After much provocation, the boxer from Bahia faced Michael Oliveira and knocked out his compatriot at the end of the ninth round.

With the result, Popó – former super featherweight and lightweight world champion – ends his career with 39 wins (33 knockouts) and two defeats. For Michael Oliveira, it is the first defeat in 18 fights. However, the São Paulo native still holds the World Boxing Council's Latin middleweight belt.

Popó, 14 years older than his opponent, started the fight by taking the center of the ring, trying to define the fight early on. In turn, Michael Oliveira rotated around his opponent to avoid attacks. In the third round the first knockdown occurred. Popó connected a great sequence on his opponent, who held on to the ropes to avoid falling. The referee opened the count and Michael was saved by the bell.

Halfway through the fight, Michael, just 22 years old, tried to take the initiative in the fight and won a few rounds, balancing the dispute. But in the ninth round, the final outcome came. First, he used a strong right punch to knock down Michael Oliveira, who still came back, but couldn't withstand the second series of punishments. The referee stopped the fight after another fall by the São Paulo native and ruled a technical knockout.

“I told him that I already lost a world title and got it back. He’s going to grow too,” said Popó after the fight.